Post 8: A Subject you enjoyed studying this semester

The subject that I liked  this semester is organic chemistry I, because before I didn´t know much about organic compounds and when I understood that each procedure had a reason and a logical explanation, everything made sense to me.

The thing that most surprised me about this subject was the ability to create an organic compound from thousands of possible paths, since depending on the conditions and disposition of the materials, you can choose which path to take to carry out the procedure.

In order to understand the classes it is necessary a lot imagination, since we must understand how a compound is formed and also how it breaks. In the classes of reactions of alkanes, alkenes and alkynes for example, understanding the reasons for their reaction mechanisms is important to predict the majority formation of one product, instead of another. At first, it was difficult for me to imagine it, but over time I could see it more easily. I feel like I learned a lot from this subject and I hope to learn more.

Post 7: An Expert on your Field

When we asked Dr. Claudia Durán for an interview about science project on Alzheimer's disease at school, she accepted and we went to the Institute of Biomedical Neuroscience at the University of Chile in order to meet her personally. I remember that she was very polite and patient with us when answering the questions, that made me think that scientists are not different from us. When she introduced us the laboratory, I felt that I was in another world and when she invited us a coffee, she encouraged us to study what we wanted and not to be afraid of studying a scientific career.

She is a Biologist, did a Master on Science with a mention in Immunology from the University of Chile and an doctorate in Biomedicine. She specialized in the evaluation of neuropathological and clinical characteristics of neurodegenerative disorders, especially the Alzheimer's disease. In the present, she is a researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Neurosciences and a director at the Professional Corporation for Alzheimer and other Dementias (COPRAD).

She is currently working on the search for effective therapies against the neurodegenerative pathologies and aging, through animal models. In addition to identifying biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer´ disease.

Post 6: A Band / Singer I like

My favorite singer is Aurora Aksnes, since she with her voice and music make me travel to another world full of life. When I heard her song called "Running with the wolves" in a random day, I knew that she felt the music in its true form.She was born in Norway, she is a pop and folk music artist, however, what brought me closer to her was her biography.
She was shy since that she was little and her parents thought that her classmates were going to tease her because of her peculiar personality and her strange way of dressing. "She looked like me," I thought when I found it.
My favorite song is "Runaway", every time I want to be away from the world I listen to it and close my eyes. It is great that by chance I met this fantastic artist, I´m very happy that I did.